Filing system.



E. A. DUNN.

FILING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED 0OT.5, 1010.

982,662. Patented Jan.24, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1. f f

Misc. 50

CHRI$TIAN M N-O P-Q R E. A. DUNN.

FILING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED 0012s, 1910.

982,662. Patented Jan.24,1911.-

ecova W0 7 mg.

EDWARD A. DUNN, 0F NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

FILING SYSTEM. 1

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 24, 1911.

Application filed October 5, 1910. Serial No. 585,399.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, EDWARD A. DUNN, of Newton, in the county of Middlcsex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFiling Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to index systems of the type which employs alphabetical and numerical sub-divisions, and the invention relates especiallyto improvements in systems which employ a series of cards or sheets designated by alphabetical sub-divisions, each of which sub-divisions has also a distinct number of its own.

' A particular object of theinvention is to provide, an index or filing system of this character wherein the projections or tabs of the members are so arranged and marked.

relatively to each other as to facilitate proper filing, and the detection of mis-placed matter,

Further, objects of the invention are to provide an index which will reduce labor costs by increasingthe facility of use; to provide an index which is expansive to avoid necessity for revising the index from time to time; to provide an index which is compact, thus saving space which representsa cash value; to provide an index which will enable surnames to be sub-divided by Christian names, thus facilitating reference and posting especially where surnames are common; and to provide an index having sub-divisions that may be used in common in different departments of a business.

To these endsthe invention consists in the system substantially as hereinafter described and claimed.

Of the accompanyin drawings,Fi-gure 1 is a front elevation o a sufficient number of a set of members to illustrate my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view of some of the same members, to illustrate a result of mis-filing. Fig. 3 is an edge view of one of the folders.

The complete system includes, of course, suflicient members to cover the entire alphabet, and said members will usually be arranged in drawers, sufficient in number to accommodate the entire set. And of course the alphabet may be divided as extensively for in the set of which a portion is illus-.

trated herein, comprises 40 sub-divisions of the entire alphabet; for instance, two subdivisions of A, three of 13, two of C, etc., as indicated by the printing on the field or index a of the front guide card a in Fig.

1. Obviously, this selection of the number of sub-divisions of the complete alphabet is arbitrary, and may be more extensive, or smaller. For convenience of description, and not with limiting effect, this will be hereinafter referred to as the major subdivision of the alphabet, to distinguish it from the further, or minor, sub-division of each of the major sub-divisions, according to Christian or firm names as hereinafter described.

The major sub-divisions are numbered consecutively, as 1 to 4.0, so that each such sub-division is numerically individualized as explained in my application 553,537, filed April 5, 1910, and said sub-divisions are used for surnames so that the name Brown, for instance, would be known to belong in division Br which is individualized by the numeral. 5. A further sub-dividing by Christian or firm names is rovided for by a separate set which pro erably comprises ten guide-cards b for dividing the alphabet into ten subdivisions herein referred to as the minor sub-divisions. Each major guide card a preferably bears printed fields or indexes a a which, for the sake of brevity, will be hereinafter referred to asthe major and minor indexes respectively. But for some purposes it will be sufficient to have these indexes on only occasional guide cards, or even to dispense entirely wit-h such printing on the guide cards themselves, using instead a card or sheet in a location convenient to the system, such card or sheet bearing the indexes a a Of these indexes, the one indicated at a shows the major subdivisions and their individual numerals already described, while the index a shows the minor sub-divisions and their individual numerals, there bein preferably ten of them numbered 0 to 0, for, use in connection with Christian and firm names as claimed in my application 570,276, filed July 5, 1910. The object of employing ten subdivisions in the minor field a is to provide for expansion of this feature of the system by adding numeralsto either. one of those shown, if desired, and especially to prevent duplication of numbers when the numerals of the minor index are added to the numerals of the major index. For instance, if

' illustrated, there would then be a '60 and a 61 of division Br 5 lappingover intothe next division Ca 6, and so duplicate the and 61 of said division Ca 6.

Whether the indexes are borne by the cards a, b themselves, or by a separate card or sheet, there will be one card a for each major sub-division, and it is provided with a projection or tab a bearing an alphabetical sub-division and its numeral. In other words, tlrere are as many cards a as there are major sub-divisions. And there are ten cards b for each major sub-division, said cards I) havin rojections or tabs 5, each bearing one o t eminor alphabetical subdivisions and its appropriate numeral. reasons presently explained, the numerals are at the right ofthe letters. To make the complete system clear, it will be stated that there are, in the particular arrangement a fragment of which is illustrated, fortyc ards a, and ten times as many cards 7), because there are ten cards 6 for each major sub-di vision. Fig. 1 simply shows the cards belongingto major sub-divisionBr.5 and the first card a of the next major sub-division Ca 6 The tabs I) bear alphabetical sub-divisions corresponding with those of the minor index a and also bear the same corresponding numerals with this difference, that between the letters and the numerals there ap pears the numeral belonging to the particular majo-r sub-division with which that particular set of ten cards is to be used. For

instance each of the tabs 6' bears the numeral 5 preceding the numeral that corresponds with the particular sub-division of index a Taking the card?) which has the tab A-B 51 the 5 means that it belongs in minor set 5 which is always associated with Br and would include all surnames Bradbury Brooks Brown. etc., while the 1 means that it marks a minor sub-division for the Christian name Arthur or Albert. By preference, the

0 means firm names, or corporationself thereto.

Folders are used tocontain the correspondence or other papers filed, and prefera ly two sets ofthem, one being for transient material, and the other for active or permanent correspondence, etc. To dis- For sub-division, and they are indicated at 0,

their projections or tabs 0 bearingnumerically individualized sub-divisions corresponding with those borne by. the tabs 5' the numerals being at the right of the let ters. These folders are, of course, forma- .terial handled with theleast frequency.

The active folders (Z have relatively wide projections or tabs cl on which are written in script, or by a typewriting machine, the names of the people or concerns whose correspondence or other papers are placed in such folders. will be placed the numeral to indicate the particular location of that folder according to the compounding of the two indexes a, a For instance, the folder for Albert T. Bradbury is marked, and always known as 51 because the 5 means Br in major sub-division a, and the 1 .is fixed by the A of Albert which locates it as belonging in minor sub-division 1 shown in index (1 The tabs at need onl "the numerals, for when the folders are led away,

And at the left of each tab said numerals must always appear adjacent to corresponding numerals borne by the tabs 0' or. I). This isbecause the numerals of the tabs (2 are always to'be placed at the left, while the numerals of the tabs b c are always at the right. And as shown, the tabs of the respective members a, b, 0, and 05, stand behind each other in parallel rows; that is, the tabs at are in one row, the tabs b in a second row, the tabs .0 in a third row, and the tabs 4 in a fourth row, the rows being parallel. I

Fig. 2 corresponds witha portion of Fig. 1, but illustrates the result of the misfiling of a folder. The folder Bradley a Adams has the numeral '50 at the left of the tab, and is shown as misplaced. To do this, it would be necessary to not only put it between other folders, having numerals not in sequence with it, but also to place it where its numeral was adjacent a tab c having a. IIOIITCOI IBSPOIldlDg numeral. The failure of numerals to correspond being much more readily detected than with sub-divisions of the alphabet, such mis-filing is not likely to occur. But if it does occur, a mis-placed folder can be quickly found by running the eye along the row of numerals, especially when, as in this case, all consecutive numerals are in rows.

The following features of construction, especially contribute toWardattain'ing the advantages mentioned: Thetabe d are so arranged that the major sub-divisions of the alphabet from Aa to Z Y Z and theirrefirm name sub-divisions Misc to T-Z, comprising the minor sub-divisions, and their respective numerals, appear on tabs 6 in the second position only. The tabs 0 of the transient folders are all in the third position adjacent the1minor'sub-divisional tabs Z). And the tabs (1' of the active folders are all out for the fourth position adjacent to tabs having minor subdivisions.

If the folders 0 were omitted, the proximity of the tabs b would still enable the folders d to be correctly filed, or to be found readily if filed out of place through great carelessness.

The system, as will now be understood, comprises a plurality of sets of units having projections or tabs, the tabs of each set being 111 a row from front to rear, the' several rows occupying different lateral positions so that the tabs of one row'can never interfere with those of a different set of units. And this enables the tabs to bear the designations described, in such relative positions that they serve as a check upon each other to facilitate filing, or the accurate re-placing of with-drawn units, and also the detection of mis-placed units. In the embodiment of the invention chosen for illustration, there are four sets of units having their tabs or projections in distinguishable rows; of these the major guide cards a constitute one set of units, the minor guide-cards b constitute a second set of'units, the transient folders 0 con stitute a third set of units and the active folders cl constitute a fourth set of units, and the tabs a, b, c, andd' are in separate, parallel, easily distinguishable rows. All these facts would still be true if the several rows of tabs were to be reversed in their lateral order; that is, if the tabs a were at the extreme right of -the system, the tabs b',-c", and d standing of]? toward the left-hand of the units. In such a case, the numerals of the'tabs a b and 0' would be carried at the leftof the letters instead of at the "right as illustrated, and the numerals of tabs cl would then be applied at the right of the names on those ta I claim 1-- 1. A filing system including a set of guides and a set of folders, the guides having tabs in one row from front to rear, and the set of folders having tabs in another row parallel with those of the guides, the tabs of the guides having alphabetical sub.- divisions individualized by numerals, the

numerals being at that side of the letters nearest to the tabs of the folders.

2. A filing system having two sets of units provided with tabs bearing alphabetical sub-divisions individmilized by numerals, the tabs of the two sets being in different lateral positions, the sub-divisions of one set differing1 from those of the other set.

3. A ling system having two sets of units provided with tabs bearing alphabetical subdivisions individualized by numerals, the tabs of the two sets being in different lateral positions, the alphabetical designations of one set being in ten divisions and individualized by the numerals 0 to 9.

4. A filing system having two sets of units provided with tabs bearin alphabetical subdivisions individualized by numerals, the tabs of the two sets being in different lateral positions, the sub-divisions of one set differing from those of the other set, and a card or sheet bearing separate indexes, each index corresponding "with the alphabetical numerical designations 'of one of the sets of units.

5. A filing system including two sets of units having projections or tabs in separate 1 distinguishable rows and having alphabetical sub-divisions, the alphabet being difierently divided for the two rows.

6. A filing system including two sets of units having projections or tabs in separate distinguishable rows, the tabs of one row having numerically individualized subdivisions of the alphabet, and the tabs of the other row also having numerically individualized sub-divisions of the alphabet but divided differently from those of the first mentioned set.

7. A filing system comprising-a plurality of sets of units having projections or tabs in parallel rows frgm front to rear, the tabs of each set of units beingi'n a'lateral position differing from that of the tabs of other 'units, the tabs of one Set of units having subdivisional designations at the right, and the tabs of another set of units having at the left sub-divisional designations to determine their filing in proper relationship to those having the designations at the right.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD A. -DUNN.

Witnesses:

H. L. ALLEN, P. W. PEZZEITI. 

